Alabama woman allegedly set on fire by husband has âlong road to recovery,â family says
The family of a Decatur woman who was allegedly set on fire by her husband earlier this month says she has third degree burns over half of her body and faces a “long road to recovery.”
Christy Mitchell is attempting to raise money for her sister Anna’s medical bills, as she continues to recuperate at UAB Hospital from the incident that happened Aug. 8.
Decatur police have charged Riley Herbert Willis III, 40, with first degree charges of domestic violence, assault and arson.
According to police, officers were called to Summer Courtyard Apartments, 2216 Acadia Drive S.W., at about 3:30 a.m. Decatur Fire and Rescue and Decatur-Morgan EMS also responded, in reference to a burn victim.
They found a woman with “serious physical injuries,” suffering from burns.
Investigators determined Willis set his wife on fire, and then set fire to the apartment before fleeing through a back window to avoid being seen. Officers found Willis hiding in another apartment in the complex.
According to court documents, the victim fled to another apartment while still on fire, and a neighbor helped extinguish the flames. She told neighbors her husband had poured rubbing alcohol on her and set her on fire.
According to Mitchell’s GoFundMe page, Anna was placed in a medical induced coma at UAB Hospital, and she is now awake and alert.
As of Monday, has had surgery to debride, or remove, some of the burned skin. She will have a feeding tube and can expect future surgeries.
“Thank you everyone for your support and prayers. A lawyer has been called and we are moving forward with protecting my sister in every aspect. God is good,” the message reads.
As of Thursday, the GoFundMe has raised more than $10,500.